Porsche 911 Speedster Concept honors 70-year anniversary

Powered by a 500-horsepower engine, the show car could signal an upcoming sports car model

On June 8, 1948, the first Porsche 356 Roadster received its operating permit. Porsche celebrated that milestone Friday with a “70 years of Porsche Sports Cars” event in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany, and this past weekend in events around the world.

What better way to link to the past than to reveal a concept car that pays homage to that original roadster as well as the 356 and 911 Speedster models? Enter the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept.

The Porsche Speedster has a sleekly aerodynamic form

Like previous Speedsters, the concept has a shorter windshield that is tilted at a steeper angle, which leads to shorter side windows as well. Perhaps the most notable design element is the pair of nacelles — Porsche calls them streamliners — on the carbon-fiber rear deck; they cover the rollover bars as they flow from behind each seat in all of their aerodynamic glory.

Contrasting black slats between the nacelles add visual interest and another aerodynamic element. The car also has a transparent Plexiglas wind deflector with an etched “70 years of Porsche” logo.
The Speedster started as a 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, and its fenders and front trunk lid have been replaced with carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components. The two-tone GT Silver Metallic and White paint is a nod to Porsche’s early racing colors.

Other retro elements include the 1950s-style central fuel-tank cap on the front trunk lid, the classic Talbot-shaped exterior mirrors, and the “X” shapes in the headlights, which came from early motorsports. Milled, gold-plated Speedster lettering adorns the B-pillars and rear fascia.

The Porsche’s interior is appointed with tan leather

Inside, the Speedster features several weight-savings measures. The seats have CFRP frames, and the radio, navigation screen, and air conditioning system have all been left out — less is more, in Porsche’s world. Cognac Brown leather upholstery also recalls Speedsters of the past. When the car is parked, a tonneau cover protects the interior instead of a convertible top.

The suspension comes from the 911 GT3, and the car rides on 21-inch Fuchs-style wheels with center locks. The engine was prepared by the Porsche Motorsport Center in Weissach. The naturally aspirated flat-6 revs to 9,000 rpm and makes more than 500 horsepower.